Island



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shee.t 1.

M. M. FLYNN.

LOCKING BRAGE FOR FOLDING FRAMES. No. 541,083. I I Patented June T8, 1895.

v ZU Z iIZIESSGJ 1720671702" (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

I M. M. PLYNN.

LOCKING BRAGE FOR FOLDING FRAMES.

No; 541,083. Patented June 18, 1895.

% m IIIIIIH aqgm Umrnn STATES men.

MICHAEL M. FLYNN, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN WRINGER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCKlNG-BRACE FOR FOLDING FRAMES.

PIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,08 3, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed February 6, 1895. Serial No. 537,489- (No model.)

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MIoHAnL M. FLYNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woonsocket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking-Braces for Folding Frames, 850.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others' skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a locking brace for folding frames or benches, and the novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claim when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wringerframe with a'wringer attached and my inn-- provements applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved device removed from the frame, illustrating-the parts disconnected. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in vertical section, partly in elevation, and parts broken away, of a folding frame with my improvements applied. Fig. 4 isaside View of the frame with one of the cross-rounds in section and my improvements applied. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line a: no on Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of one of the supporting-legs, showing the stop thereon.

Referring by letter to said drawings: A, indicates a folding bench or frame, and B, a clothes wringer, mounted on the upright part of said frame.

The frame shown and'the wringer employed form no part of my invention, but are illustrated for the purpose of showing the application of my improved locking brace to a wringer frame.

The supporting legs C, which are connected by rounds D, are hinged to the horizontal bars 1, of the folding frame by means of hinges F, so that the leg sections may fold against the under side of the bars E, when it is desired to fold the frame and they may be swung into a vertical position, or approximately so when the frame has been unfolded. These hinges are shown as composed of a straight section d, secured to the outer side of each leg by means of screws or the like, and a curved section e, which is pivotally secured at one end to the horizontal bars E, and pivotally secured at the opposite end to the upper end of the straight section d, and to the said legs. I do not wish to confine myself however to the particular form and construction of hinge shown.

My improved locking brace comprises a section G, which may be made of metal or other suitable material, with an eye H, at one end, and a fork or bifurcation I, at its opposite end. On one side of this section G, and at a suitable point in its length, is a transversely-disposed stop J, having a shoulder K, for a purpose which will presently appear. The other section L, of this brace has a circular enlargement M, disposed laterally at one end, and is designed to enter the eye H, of

the section G, and surrounding this enlargement is an annular flange N, which is designed to serve'as a stop for the circularFenlargement in entering the eye H. This end of the section L, carrying the enlargement M, is pierced with a transverse hole a, which is designed to receive a pivot pin P, which takes through said hole and into one of the bars E, of the folding frame. This hole is disposed eccentrically in the enlargement M, and as said enlargement has its bearing in the eye H, a cam or eccentric will be formed on the section L, so asto impart an up and down movement to the section G, of the brace. EX- tending from the eccentric or circularly-enlarged portion of the section L, is a lever or handle 1), which is designed to be brought into contact with the shoulder K, of the stop J, and this lever may have a slight spring or resiliency so that it will hold contact with the stop, so as to prevent casual disconnection.

In operation it will be seen that when the lever or handle I), is drawn away from the stop on the section G, and thrown upwardly, the cam or eccentric will draw said section G, away from the upper round D, of the leg section when said leg section will be folded against the bars E, while when the leg section has been unfolded, and the direction of movement of the lever b, reversed until it is again brought into contact with the stop on the section G, the fork of said section will be moved IOO to engage the round of the leg section and brace and lock the same in the unfolded position.

This locking brace is of a very durable construction. It can be manufactured at a very small expense, and can be applied to any folding bench or stand such as at present in use without altering the construction of the latter in any manner whatever.

In some cases where the cross round is not in a position to receive the brace, I bolt or otherwise secure a short round or stop D to one of the legs 0, to be engaged by said brace as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

I-Iaving described my invention, What I claim is and also having a hole to receive a pivot pin a and a handle or lever to engage the stop, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL M. FLYNN.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. SWEENEY, JAMES H. LARKIN. 

